Electric ignition apparatus for internal-combustion engines.



F. H. ALSTON. ELEO'I'BIOIGNITION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL GOMBUSTIONYENGINES. APPLICATION FILED 318.24, 1910.

979,9 1 2, Patented Dec. 27; 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

FRANK HERBERT ALSTON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOBOULTBEE BROOKS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC IGNITION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HERBERT ALsToN, subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Birmingham, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric Ignition Apparatus for Internal-(Jombustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the contact arrangements or current collectorsfor conveying the current between relatively moving parts of electricignition apparatus, and has for its object to dispense With the use ofrubbing contacts where the current is to be conveyed axially orcentrally from the one part to the other so as to lessen friction andwear. This object is proposed to be attained by employing special ballor roller bearing contacts or current collectors instead of the ordinaryrubbing contacts.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings represents a section through amagneto-electric machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is anenlarged section through the improved ball-bearing contact.

In the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, the induction coil of the systemis utilized as the revolving part of the high-tension distributer, saidcoil, which is shown at 1, being driven from the armature 2, andarranged to revolve within a chamber formed by the space inclosed by theupper portions of the magnets 8. The one end of the primary winding isearthed and the other is connected to an insulated terminal stud 12arranged to project from the center of the end cheek l. The outer end ofthis stud is internally coned and is engaged by the correspondinglyconed end of a plunger sleeve 13 slidably passing through the hollowboss lt of the spur wheel 7 but revolving with the coil. The outer endof this sleeve 14 carries a. plunger 15 forced outward by a spring 16,and having av coned extremity which engages with a, ball-bearing contactor current collector arranged in accordance with this invention andcarried by the removable screwed-on cap 17. This ballbearing contactcomprises a hollow cup or body part 18 within whose interior is arrangeda ring of anti-friction balls 19 running upon races. The one end of thecup is open so as to receive the end of the spring plunger 1 5 whichbears and runs upon the balls, thus Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. January 24, 1910.

Patented Dec 27, 1910.

Serial NO. 539,723.

reducing friction and wear to a minimum. The balls are retained inposition when not engaged by the plunger by a centrallypiercedclosuredisk 20 secured in the mouth of the cup after the balls have beeninserted in place. The said cup or body 18 is carried by the end of ascrewed shank 21 passing through, but insulated from the cap 17 so as toproject from the outside, where it is fitted with a looking or fixingnut 22 and binding nut 23, thus forming the external terminal of thecoil to which the low-tension current from the armature of the machineis brought, said current being thence conveyed through the ball-bearingcontact and spring plunger to the primary winding of the revolving coil.

Ball-bearing contacts, similar to that represented at l8, 19, forconveying the lowtension current to the primary winding of the coil, maybe employed on the magneto machine or other ignition apparatus whereverit is required to convey current (high or low tension) centrally oraxially from a revolving part to a stationary part, or vice versa. Forinstance, it may be employed for conveying the low-tension current fromthe live end of the armature, or from a revolving contact breaker, tothe external terminal. As shown, the cup 36 containing the balls 37 iscarried by the end of the detachable contact breaker cap 38, the shank39 passing therethrough to form the external terminal, while engagingwith the balls is the spring loaded plunger or brush 40 connected withthe contact breaker. Instead of balls being employed in the contactfittings above described, rollers may be used.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secureby Letters Patent is 1. In electric ignition apparatus, an anti frictioncurrent collector comprising a. cup part provided with races, a ring ofantifriction devices running upon said races, a central plunger engagingwith said anti-friction devices. yielding means associated with saidplunger and adapted to normally keep it in engagement with theanti-friction devices, and means for retaining the anti-friction devicesin place when not lmgaged by the plunger.

2. In electric ignition apparatus, an antifriction contact comprising a.cup part con taining 21 ring of anti-friction devices and a In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set relatively rotating sprn'lg-lnfluencedfeeder my hand in presence of two subscribing wit brush adapted toengage said anti-frlction nesees.

devices sald cup being carried by a shank FRANK HERBERT ALSTON. 5passing through the part upon whlch the \Vltnessesz contact 15 mounted,and constituting an eX- I-IENRY-S. SKERRETT,

ternal terminal. HEXRY NORTON SKERRETT.

